Tufting device



M. ROSBERGER TUFTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 50, 1933 QVAVAVAVNLVA'A INVENTOR Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved device for tufting mattresses and similarly padded articles. The device comprises buttons which are separable, that is, made of two members that may snap to- 5 gether and are held in snapped relation by their frictional contact.

The two members are pulled together and snapped in position when a tufting cord is secured to the inner one after the cord has been passed through the compressed mattress and fastened to the said inner member. The cord therefore not only serves as a means for holding the buttons in tight relation to the mattress but also aids in the tufting operation thereby making it easier to tuft a mattress and also saving time in the operation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a section through a tufted mattress and illustrating my improved tufting buttons in place. Figure 2 is a section, enlarged, of the snap or inner member and part of the seating member. Figure 3 is a section of a modified form of snap member. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the seating member.

The device contemplates the use of two buttons at least one of which embodies my invention. The buttons are held in place by a tufting strand, usually cord, which is taut and keeps the mattress compressed and prevents the shifting of the filling material. For the purpose of illustrating the invention I show a mattress of the type that includes a spring unit and a filling on the outside of the unit.

In the drawing I illustrates the spring unit and I I is the filling on the top and bottom. The whole is enclosed in a fabric cover l2.

The tufting device comprises two members that snap together and are held together under the influence of the tufting cord and'are held together, when the tufting cord is loose under compression of the mattress, by the frictional contact between the two members.

The seating member I3 is usually made of sheet metal and is secured to cover I2 in any suitable manner. The cover is preferably perforated and the seating member is preferably secured by prongs I I. The prongs I4 are extended from the rim of the member I3 and readily bent over as shown in Figure l. The member I3 is in the form of a ring having a central opening which is provided at its edge with a flange I5. The flange is relatively stiff and is formed to provide a concave seat I6 for receiving the snap member of the button.

The snap member I! is provided at its rim with means, such as the split spring flange, I8 which fit into the concave seat I6 of the seating member for frictionally holding the two members together. The top part IQ of the snap member is too large to go through the hole in the member I3. 5

The snap member includes a tubular extension 20 which extends downwardly at the center for the member. The extension is constructed to receive the loop of a double tufting cord 2|. The form shown in Figure 2 has a slot 22 extending from one side downwardly to the centre with its ends 23 aligned to hold the cord 2|. A prong 24 bent inwardly over the ends of the slot prevents escape of the cord after it is in place.

In Figure 3 I show a modification in which the, slot 25 extends upwardly from the bottom and the loop of the cord 2| thus can enter from the end of the tubular extension. The prong or prongs 26 hold the cord against removal from the button, and are placed short of the upper end of the slot.

The member I3 may be provided with holes 26 for ventilation of the mattress. The tubular extension 20 being larger than the cord also provides an opening to aid in ventilating and aerating the mattress.

The device is installed by first securing the seating member I3 in place on the cover I2. The tufting cord is secured to a button and then passed through the mattress by a needle which has an open eye for lateral removal of the loop of the cord which is doubled. The needle and the doubled cord pass up through the central hole in the seating member. The mattress is now compressed and the cord is taut. The cord is removed from the needle and hooked into the extension 20 of the snap member. The cord is then released and the snap member is drawn into the flange or seat I6 of the seating member and the device is assembled. The cord does not come loose when slack, by reason of the prongs or teeth in the extension of the snap member. The two members of the button are held against separation when the mattress is compressed and the cord is slack by the frictional contact of the two members I3 and I1.

Various changes can be made in the form and 45 proportion of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:-

l. A tufting device comprising a ring-like flat seating member to lie flatwise on a mattress, a 50 snap member having a substantially fiat top face and having a marginal split spring flange fitting frictionally in the hole in the seating member and a centrally arranged tubular extension on the snap member, said extension having a lateral 55 passage for receiving a tufting strand, the two members when assembled presenting a substantially smooth exterior.

2. A tufting device comprising a ring-like seating member to lie flat on a mattrses, a snap member fitting frictionally in the hole in the seating member, said snap member having an integral tubular extension having its walls provided with opposed slots to form a receiving passage for a cord which bridges the extension, said walls having a prong short of the end of the slot for retaining the cord in the slot, said snap member being entirely within the seating member.

3. A tufting device comprising a ring-like seating member to engage a mattress, the member having the opening therein flanged to provide a concave annular holding device, a snap member of sheet-metal having a marginal spring flange for entering the concave flange and having its top,

portion large enough to prevent entry into the seating member, said snap member including a tubular extension extending in the same direction as the flange having means for engaging and holding a cord, the two members thus presenting a substantially smooth exterior.

4. A tufting device comprising a ring-like seating member to engage a mattress, the member having the opening therein flanged to provide a concave annular holding device, a snap member having a marginal flange for entering the concave flange and having its top portion large enough to prevent entry into the seating member, said snap member including a tubular extension Which is provided with a slot for receiving a cord and a prong for retaining a cord in the slot.

5. A tufting device comprising a ring-like seating member to engage a mattress, the member having the opening therein flanged to provide a concave annular holding device, a snap member having a marginal flange for entering the concave flange and having its top portion large enough to. prevent entry into the seating member, said snap member including a tubular extension which is provided with an inclined slot arranged with its ends aligned with the longitudinal center of the extension and a prong extending from the wall of the extension to retain a cord that bridges the ends of the slot.

MAX ROSBERGER. 

